NON-EXECUTIVE members who will continue to serve on the boards of the Regional Development Agencies before their scrapping in less than two years have been named.

Graham Thrower, Professor Chris Higgins, Gill Hale, Ian Dormer, Alison Thain, Ian Brown and Bob Symonds will continue to serve on the board of One North East until it closes, most likely in March 2012.

One North East chairwoman Margaret Fay said: “These board members have all brought a wealth of experience, energy and focus to the board of One North East and I am delighted that they have agreed to continue to work alongside the new chairman Paul Callaghan during this critical time for the region.”

Mark Lovell, Mark Kirk and Linda Pollard will continue to serve on the board of Yorkshire Forward until it closes.

Yorkshire Forward chairman Terry Hodgkinson said: “I am pleased to see the re-appointment of Mark Kirk and Mark Lovell to the Yorkshire Forward Board and welcome the extension of service for Linda Pollard.”

He added that the board members could provide muchneeded support to staff during this very difficult time of closure.